Urinal for a shower having a lid with ridges for supporting a bar of soap

ABSTRACT

A urinal for allowing a user to dispose of urine while taking a shower. The urinal includes a bowl that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface defines an interior space that is designed for collecting urine. A back wall of the bowl designed to be coupled to a wall of the shower. A drainage port is positioned at a bottom of the bowl. The drainage port designed to be coupled to a drainpipe of the shower. The drainage port is in fluid communication with the interior space of the bowl such that the drainage port is designed for draining the urine from the interior space of the bowl into the drainpipe of the shower.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to urinals and more particularly pertains to a new urinal for allowing a user to dispose of urine while taking a shower.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] The use of urinals is known in the prior art. More specifically, urinals heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

[0005] Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,110; U.S. Pat. No. 1,729,258; U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,858; U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,858; U.S. Pat. No. 2,589,592; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 251,604; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 331,451.

[0006] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new urinal. The inventive device includes a bowl that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface defines an interior space that is designed for collecting urine. A back wall of the bowl designed to be coupled to a wall of the shower. A drainage port is positioned at a bottom of the bowl. The drainage port designed to be coupled to a drainpipe of the shower. The drainage port is in fluid communication with the interior space of the bowl such that the drainage port is designed for draining the urine from the interior space of the bowl into the drainpipe of the shower.

[0007] In these respects, the urinal according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a user to dispose of urine while taking a shower.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of urinals now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new urinal construction wherein the same can be utilized for allowing a user to dispose of urine while taking a shower.

[0009] The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new urinal apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the urinals mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new urinal which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art urinals, either alone or in any combination thereof.

[0010] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a bowl that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface defines an interior space that is designed for collecting urine. A back wall of the bowl designed to be coupled to a wall of the shower. A drainage port is positioned at a bottom of the bowl. The drainage port designed to be coupled to a drainpipe of the shower. The drainage port is in fluid communication with the interior space of the bowl such that the drainage port is designed for draining the urine from the interior space of the bowl into the drainpipe of the shower.

[0011] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0012] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0013] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0014] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

[0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new urinal apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the urinals mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new urinal which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art urinals, either alone or in any combination thereof.

[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new urinal, which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0017] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new urinal, which is of a durable and reliable construction.

[0018] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new urinal which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such urinal economically available to the buying public.

[0019] Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new urinal which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

[0020] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new urinal for allowing a user to dispose of urine while taking a shower.

[0021] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new urinal which includes a bowl that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface defines an interior space that is designed for collecting urine. A back wall of the bowl designed to be coupled to a wall of the shower. A drainage port is positioned at a bottom of the bowl. The drainage port designed to be coupled to a drainpipe of the shower. The drainage port is in fluid communication with the interior space of the bowl such that the drainage port is designed for draining the urine from the interior space of the bowl into the drainpipe of the shower.

[0022] Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new urinal that allows a user to dispose of urine in the shower while decreasing the possibility of germs which may build around the shower drain area. The present invention also eliminates wet bathroom floors and interrupted showers.

[0023] Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new urinal that drastically reduces the size, weight and water usage of a standard toilet. The present invention increases your savings in water, the life of your septic tanks and is the most sanitary urinal to date.

[0024] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0026]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new urinal according to the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0030] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new urinal embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0031] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the urinal 10 generally comprises a bowl 12 that includes an interior surface 14 and an exterior surface 16. The interior surface 14 defines an interior space 18 that is designed for collecting urine. A back wall 20 of the bowl 12 designed to be coupled to a wall 22 of the shower.

[0032] A drainage port 24 is positioned at a bottom of the bowl 12. The drainage port 24 designed to be coupled to a drainpipe 26 of the shower. The drainage port 24 is in fluid communication with the interior space 18 of the bowl 12 such that the drainage port 24 is designed for draining the urine from the interior space 18 of the bowl 12 into the drainpipe 26 of the shower.

[0033] A adhesive 30 applied to the back wall 32 of the urinal is adapted to be coupled to the back wall 22 of the shower, wherein the adhesive 30 includes a waterproof mastic.

[0034] A lid 34 is pivotally coupled to a top edge 36 of the bowl 12 such that the lid 34 has an open position to allow access to the interior space 18 through an upper opening of the interior space 18. The lid 34 includes a closed position for restricting access to the interior space 18 of the bowl 12. The lid 34 has a plurality of ridges 38 along an upper surface of the lid 34, the ridges 38 of the lid 34 are adapted for allowing water to drain away from a bar of soap. The lid 34 has a plurality of feet 40 positioned proximate a peripheral edge of the lid 34, the feet 40 are for absorbing the impact of the lid 34 with the bowl 12.

[0035] The bowl 12 has a water inlet 42 that extends through the back wall 20 of the bowl 12. The water inlet 42 is adapted for directing water into the interior space 18 of the bowl 12 for rinsing urine into the drainage port 24. The lid 34 has a dispersal plate 44 that extends downwardly from the lid 34, the dispersal plate 44 is adapted for directing water from the water inlet 42 towards the drainage port 24 to rinse urine form the interior space 18 of the bowl 12.

[0036] A mounting member 46 is removably coupled to the bowl 12, the lid 34 is rotatably coupled to the mounting member 46. The bowl 12 includes a pair of stanchions 48 that extend upwardly from an upper surface of the bowl 12, each of the stanchions 48 includes a channel 50 along an inner side of the respective stanchion 48. The mounting member 46 has a pair of sides 52 each includes a vertical tab 54 that extends outwardly from the respective side. The vertical tab 54 is for slidably engaging the channel 50 of one of the stanchions 50 such that the mounting member 46 is removable from the stanchions 48 of the bowl 12. The mounting member 46 has a vertical portion 56 and a horizontal portion 58. The vertical portion 56 is for aligning between the stanchions 48 of the bowl 12. The lid 34 is rotatably coupled to the horizontal portion 58 of the mounting member 46. In an embodiment the present invention measures 4 inches in height by 4 inches in length and 8 inches in width and the mounting member 46 and the lid 34 are comprised of vitreous china or cultured marble.

[0037] In use, a user would lift the lid and urinate into the interior space of the bowl, after the user is finished the user would close the lid.

[0038] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

[0039] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0040] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A urinal for disposing of urine of a user while the user is in a shower, the urinal comprising: a bowl having interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining an interior space being adapted for collecting urine, a back wall of said bowl being adapted for coupling to a wall of the shower; and a drainage port being positioned at a bottom of said bowl, said drainage port being adapted for coupling to a drainpipe of the shower, said drainage port being in fluid communication with said interior space of said bowl such that said drainage port is adapted for draining the urine from said interior space of said bowl into the drainpipe of the shower.
 2. The urinal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: an adhesive applied to said back wall, said adhesive being adapted coupling said back wall to the wall of the shower.
 3. The urinal as set forth in claim 2, wherein said adhesive comprises a waterproof mastic.
 4. The urinal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a lid being pivotally coupled to a top edge of said bowl such that said lid has an open position to allow access to said interior space through an upper opening of said interior space, said lid having a closed position for restricting access to said interior space of said bowl.
 5. The urinal as set forth in claim 4, wherein said lid has a plurality of ridges along an upper surface of said lid, said ridges of said lid being adapted for allowing water to drain away from a bar of soap.
 6. The urinal as set forth in claim 4, wherein said lid has a plurality of feet positioned proximate a peripheral edge of said lid, said feet being for absorbing impact of said lid with said bowl.
 7. The urinal as set forth in claim 4, wherein said bowl has a water inlet extending through said back wall of said bowl, said water inlet being adapted for directing water into said interior space of said bowl for rinsing urine into said drainage port.
 8. The urinal as set forth in claim 7, wherein said lid has a dispersal plate extending downwardly from said lid, said dispersal plate being adapted for directing water from said water inlet towards said drainage port to rinse urine form said interior space of said bowl.
 9. The urinal as set forth in claim 4, further comprising: a mounting member being removably coupled to said bowl, said lid being rotatably coupled to said mounting member; said bowl having a pair of stanchions upwardly extending from an upper surface of said bowl, each of said stanchions having a channel along an inner side of said respective stanchion; wherein said mounting member has a pair of sides each having a vertical tab extending outwardly from said respective side, said vertical tab being for slidably engaging said channel of one of said stanchions such that said mounting member is removable from said stanchions of said bowl.
 10. The urinal as set forth in claim 9, wherein said mounting member has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, said vertical portion being for aligning between said stanchions of said bowl, said lid being rotatably coupled to said horizontal portion of said mounting member.
 11. The urinal as set forth in claim 9, wherein said bowl, said mounting member and said lid are comprised of vitreous china.
 12. The urinal as set forth in claim 9, wherein said bowl, said mounting member and said lid are comprised of cultured marble.
 13. The urinal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bowl has a water inlet extending through said back wall of said bowl, said water inlet being adapted for directing water into said interior space of said bowl for rinsing urine into said drainage port.
 14. The urinal as set forth in claim 13, wherein said bowl has a dispersal plate coupled to said bowl, said dispersal plate being adapted for directing water from said water inlet towards said drainage port to rinse urine form said interior space of said bowl.
 15. The urinal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bowl is comprised of vitreous china.
 16. The urinal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bowl is comprised of cultured marble.
 17. A urinal for disposing of urine of a user while the user is in a shower, the urinal comprising: a bowl having interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface defining an interior space being adapted for collecting urine, a back wall of said bowl being adapted for coupling to a wall of the shower; a drainage port being positioned at a bottom of said bowl, said drainage port being adapted for coupling to a drainpipe of the shower, said drainage port being in fluid communication with said interior space of said bowl such that said drainage port is adapted for draining the urine from said interior space of said bowl into the drainpipe of the shower; an adhesive applied to said back wall, said adhesive being adapted coupling said back wall to the wall of the shower, wherein said adhesive comprises a waterproof mastic; a lid being pivotally coupled to a top edge of said bowl such that said lid has an open position to allow access to said interior space through an upper opening of said interior space, said lid having a closed position for restricting access to said interior space of said bowl; wherein said lid has a plurality of ridges along an upper surface of said lid, said ridges of said lid being adapted for allowing water to drain away from a bar of soap; wherein said lid has a plurality of feet positioned proximate a peripheral edge of said lid, said feet being for absorbing impact of said lid with said bowl; wherein said bowl has a water inlet extending through said back wall of said bowl, said water inlet being adapted for directing water into said interior space of said bowl for rinsing urine into said drainage port; wherein said lid has a dispersal plate extending downwardly from said lid, said dispersal plate being adapted for directing water from said water inlet towards said drainage port to rinse urine form said interior space of said bowl; a mounting member being removably coupled to said bowl, said lid being rotatably coupled to said mounting member; said bowl having a pair of stanchions upwardly extending from an upper surface of said bowl, each of said stanchions having a channel along an inner side of said respective stanchion; wherein said mounting member has a pair of sides each having a vertical tab extending outwardly from said respective side, said vertical tab being for slidably engaging said channel of one of said stanchions such that said mounting member is removable from said stanchions of said bowl; and wherein said mounting member has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, said vertical portion being for aligning between said stanchions of said bowl, said lid being rotatably coupled to said horizontal portion of said mounting member.
 18. The urinal as set forth in claim 17, wherein said bowl, said mounting member and said lid are comprised of vitreous china.
 19. The urinal as set forth in claim 17, wherein said bowl, said mounting member and said lid are comprised of cultured marble. 